As Long as Daddy Comes Back
"Mommy, we're here!"
Sophia and Ethan burst into the hospital room, their faces beaming with excitement as they swung open the door.
"Mommy, are you okay now?" Their eyes filled with worry when they saw her freshly bandaged arms and legs.
“I'm fine. It'll be better in a few days," she reassured them.
"Godfather said you visited Daddy the other day. Will Daddy be back soon? Mommy?” Sophia asked.
"Yes, that's right."
"Mommy, we've been staying at Grandma's these past few days. Great-grandpa has been so kind to us. When you're better, please come live with us at Great-Grandpa's. Our house isn't safe, okay?” Sophia pleaded, shaking her hand.
“Who told you that, Sophia?” Alison asked.
"Godfather and Grandma Cassandra," Sophia answered.
"Oh, then you can stay with Great-Grandpa for now. We'll bring you home once your mommy gets better."
"Who drove you here?"
“Oh, we rode with Grandma Stephanie. She dropped us off at the hospital entrance and left," Sophia answered.
“Did you see Uncle Rock during those days?” Alison asked.
Sophia thought for a moment and shook her head. "No. We stayed at Great-Grandpa's house for two days and didn't see him at all."
“Did you see Aunt Emily?” Alison pressed.
“No, we didn't.”
Rock and Emily are both missing. It seemed the Polar Bear Alliance is truly in trouble.
Why did Stephanie bring the children here?
"Mommy, don't be naughty anymore. Godfather said you hurt yourself because you were too mischievous." Sophia admonished.
"Ethan, you can't be naughty either."
"Got it," Ethan said, sticking out his tongue. "Such a nag."
“I'm not nagging! If you keep being naughty, you'll end up in the hospital like Mommy someday. Grandma Cassandra said so,” Sophia said earnestly.
Alison found this odd. Isn't Cassandra sick?
“Does Grandma Cassandra stay at Great-Grandpa's house half the day, every day?” she asked.
"No, she just comes over for a little while each day and then leaves," Sophia replied.
Alison frowned.
After Jack had been missing for so long, she found it hard to imagine Isabella, Stephanie, and Cassandra coexisting peacefully under Alexander's watch.
"Mommy, you have to get better and come home soon. You still have to tell us stories about Daddy," Sophia said.
"Daddy said he'll be back in a few days with lots of presents!" Ethan exclaimed excitedly.
"I don't want presents. I just want Daddy back,” Sophia pouted. "If he doesn't come back soon, I won't want him anymore."
"But Daddy wants you," Alison said, stroking Sophia's cheek.
"Mommy, have you eaten?" Ethan noticed the untouched porridge box on the table.
“Not yet,” Alison replied.
"Mommy, how can you get better and leave the hospital if you don't eat? Let me feed you the porridge.” Ethan ran to the table, picked up the box, and held it in front of her.
Under the children's watchful eyes, Alison finished the entire box of porridge.
“Mommy, I'll sing you a song. It's one my kindergarten teacher just taught me,” Sophia said excitedly.
"Oh, that's wonderful!”
Sophia sang in her childish voice until Aidan appeared at the doorway.
"Who's taking the kids home? Is it you, Aidan?” Alison asked.
"It's me, Alison." Stephanie peered over Aidan's shoulder. She was holding a bouquet of flowers and a bag of fruit. "I was rushing to meet a client when I dropped the kids off earlier. I finally found time to see you now."
She sat down beside Alison's bed.
Alison couldn't help but wonder: Is she friend or foe?
"Auntie, I'm fine. I just need you to take extra care of the kids,” she said gratefully.
"They're very well-behaved; they haven't made a fuss or cried."
Stephanie stroked Sophia's cheek affectionately. "This child takes after you—quiet and gentle."
"Grandpa Stephanie even made me fruit salad yesterday, Mommy," Sophia said shyly, burrowing into Alison's embrace.
“Did you thank her, Sophia?”
“Of course I did,” Sophia replied earnestly.
...
"All right, we can't stay too long at the hospital. It'll affect Mommy's rest. Once she gets better, we'll go home and be with you every day," Aidan said.
"Okay..."
Night fell, and the room grew quiet. Through the frosted glass of the door, Alison could faintly make out the busy figures of security guards outside.
Then, the door opened again.
"Alison, why aren't you asleep yet?" someone asked.
Alison shook her head.
"Go to sleep. I'll keep watch tonight," the person said.
She paused, then asked Aidan, "Are the security guards outside from the police station?"
"Yes, they're,” Aidan admitted.
"Can I meet Officer Clark? Could you arrange a time for me?” she pressed.
His expression suddenly hardened.
Her heart tightened as she recalled the fatal incident reported in the newspapers.
"Did something happen to him?" she asked.
"He's gone."